Top scorer and top player at the European Championship: England striker Beth Mead was the outstanding player of the tournament in her home country with six goals and five assists. The 20-year-old Lena Oberdorf from the German team was voted the best young player at the European Championship.
When it became known shortly before the kick-off of the European Championship final between England and Germany on Sunday (07/31/2022) that Alexandra Popp would not be able to play due to muscular problems, it was clear: Even if Mead did not score another goal or receive another assist in the final, she is most likely the tournament’s top scorer. And that’s how it happened.
Like the German striker, the 27-year-old Englishwoman had scored six goals by the final. Her assists were the decisive factor in her winning the title of “Top Scorer of the European Championships”: Mead provided the assist for five more goals by the “Lionesses”. Her strong offensive performances throughout the tournament also brought the attacker the UEFA award “Player the EM”.
Mead and Popp do it like Grings 2009
Besides Mead and Popp, who scored in five games in a row in England, only Germany striker Inka Grings had previously scored six goals in a tournament at the 2009 European Championship. Grings and Birgit Prinz lead the list of the best European Championship goalscorers with ten goals each. Grings reached this mark in only two European Championship finals, Prinz needed five tournaments for it.
Oberdorf best young player at the European Championships in England
The UEFA award for the best young player in the European Championships after losing the final against England (1-2 aet) was probably only small consolation for midfield sweeper Oberdorf. Nevertheless: Those responsible for the tournament honored the strong performances of the 20-year-olds in the center of midfield over the entire period of the European Championship.